<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 28, 1994
REGISTRATION NO. 33-32872
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
---------------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 6 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. 7 /X/
--------------------
DEAN WITTER PRECIOUS METALS AND MINERALS TRUST
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
SHELDON CURTIS, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
------------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
_X_ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
____ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
____ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
____ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485.
------------------------
THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO SECTION (A)(1) OF RULE 24F-2 UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. PURSUANT TO SECTION (B)(2) OF RULE 24F-2, THE
REGISTRANT FILED A RULE 24F-2 NOTICE FOR ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1994
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 17, 1994.
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<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER PRECIOUS METALS AND MINERALS TRUST
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FORM N-1A
PART A
ITEM CAPTION PROSPECTUS
<S> <C>
1. .................................................... Cover Page
2. .................................................... Summary of Fund Expenses; Prospectus Summary
3. .................................................... Financial Highlights; Performance Information
4. .................................................... Investment Objective and Policies; The Fund and its
Management; Cover Page; Investment Restrictions;
Prospectus Summary; Financial Highlights
5. .................................................... The Fund and Its Management; Back Cover; Investment
Objective and Policies
6. .................................................... Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional
Information
7. .................................................... Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder Services
8. .................................................... Redemptions and Repurchases; Shareholder Services
9. .................................................... Not Applicable
PART B
ITEM STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
10. .................................................... Cover Page
11. .................................................... Table of Contents
12. .................................................... The Fund and Its Management
13. .................................................... Investment Practices and Policies; Investment
Restrictions; Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
14. .................................................... The Fund and its Management; Trustees and Officers
15. .................................................... Trustees and Officers
16. .................................................... The Fund and Its Management; Purchase of Fund Shares;
Custodian and Transfer Agent; Independent Accountants
17. .................................................... Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. .................................................... Description of Shares; Validity of Shares of Beneficial
Interest
19. .................................................... Repurchase of Fund Shares; Redemptions and Repurchases;
Statement of Assets and Liabilities; Shareholder
Services
20. .................................................... Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. .................................................... The Distributor
22. .................................................... Performance Information
23. .................................................... Experts; Financial Statements
</TABLE>
PART C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
PART A
All disclosures contained in Part A (Prospectus) of Form N-1A of
Post-Effective Amendment Number 5 to the Registration Statement of Dean Witter
Precious Metals and Minerals Trust (the "Registrant"), filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 1994, are herewith
Incorporated by Reference in this Post-Effective Amendment Number 6 to the
Registration Statement of the Registrant.
PART B
All disclosures contained in Part B (Statement of Additional Information)
of Form N-1A of Post-Effective Amendment Number 5 to the Registration
Statement of Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust (the
"Registrant"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 23, 1994, are herewith Incorporated by Reference in this
Post-Effective Amendment Number 6 to the Registration Statement of the
Registrant.
PART C
ITEM 27. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(b)(1) FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
All disclosures contained in Part C of Form N-1A of Post-Effective
Amendment Number 5 to the Registration Statement of Dean Witter Precious
Metals and Minerals Trust (the "Registrant"), filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 23, 1994, are herewith Incorporated by
Reference in this Post-Effective Amendment Number 6 to the Registration
Statement of the Registrant.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-
Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of
New York on the 28th day of December, 1994.
DEAN WITTER PRECIOUS METALS AND MINERALS TRUST
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis
-----------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-
Effective Amendment No. 6 has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
(1) Principal Executive Officer President, Chief
Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman
By /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 12/28/94
--------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 12/28/94
--------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis 12/28/94
--------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Attorney-in-Fact
Jack F. Bennett Paul Kolton
John R. Haire Michael E. Nugent
Michael Bozic Manuel H. Johnson
Edwin J. Garn John L. Schroeder
By /s/David M. Butowsky 12/28/94
--------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 69,340,560
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 75,339,465
<RECEIVABLES> 639,316
<ASSETS-OTHER> 126,547
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 76,105,328
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,205,440
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,456,091
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,661,531
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 66,505,099
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,412,088
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,186,537
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 939,784
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 5,998,914
<NET-ASSETS> 73,443,797
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 519,926
<INTEREST-INCOME> 416,893
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,512,584
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (575,765)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,811,762
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 866,334
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,102,331
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (85,434)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 11,161,794
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 8,942,956
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6,713
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 28,239,942
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (379,884)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (105,548)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 530,057
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,512,584
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 66,257,146
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.80
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.06)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .73
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.02)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.28
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
